Bagstr

N2TM seemed to like our ride last Friday, so he sends me a Text Thursday ask where we are going. No one had responded to my Saturday Ride Post at that point, so my response was, " I will see you in the morning." The plants are waking with blooms breaking out in some areas.

Edit Friday 5:13 PM Sorry folks, I am Out for Saturday. Just returned from riding with N2TM. This is a great Loop, do it without me. See post #7 http://maps.google.c...4ee399f1c15e6f8 Here is the concept: A. Park 1 mile north of Hwy 78 at Buttes Pass ( my new favorite trailhead ) per the above G-Map. B. Do an initial Noob Friendly loop of about 20 miles circling down The Slot, Old Borrego Rd. and San Gregorio Ridge. This still has sandy two track, but folks can bail if they feel they are over their head ( In Deep Sand). There are several paved access points on this first loop. C. After the 15 mile Warm-up, Strike off north in earnest at an Intermediate pace and duration. Inspiration W and Overlook; Thimble, Short; Ella; Arroyo Salada; Five Palms; Una Palma to Cut-Across heading southwest. If we still have gas in our tank, we could do Hills of the Moon Wash before returning to Buttes Pass. There will be little time to rest your arms on this route. I don't ride fast, but the route will be a workout. Ready to ride by 0930. ( Which is funny coming from me. ) Tools, Tubes, Water & Snacks. No, food or gas on route.

Sorry Folks, I am Out for Saturday. Just returned from the Borrego Badlands riding with N2TM. But hey, the Dez is not going anywhere, be my guest and do the Loop without me! If a minor miracle takes place, and the wife doesn't want to see me tomorrow, I could show up. But don't count on it.

Any of you that have seen my Honda with the bike on the Joe Hauler, you know what I need. To level up the rear Coil springs. Accepting recommendations / Thanks for your input. On coming traffic will thank you!

One baggy XL at this address.

Cablejockey, Obviously, you are a thinking man. Coming to offroad riding later in life makes us work through issues not a concern of folks riding since birth. In my case, It's taken four years to stop worrying about Sand. Once you get there, the joys of surfing the sand are addictive. Just like the waves, sand will punish you now and then!

Great to see a journey woman at work. Thanks for sharing the process.

http://automobiles.honda.com/ridgeline/exterior-photos.aspx

Good information, this. Everyone should be aware that when a Ride Leader posts a qualification such as "Intermediate or Fast Pace", they do so not for the purpose of excluding anyone. The places we ride are remote and potentially dangerous to the uninitiated. Getting a flat while not carrying a tube or bonking for lack of water or food, creates a very difficult situation 15 miles from a road. There are a range of rides posted. If you are getting your sand feet wet, for example, let people know that is the situation. There are rides appropriate to sampling the sand. talk to the leader. For example, I ride a 300lb 690 that becomes a liability on a strictly single track route. If the route difficulty is unclear, I need to chat-up the leader. But only you can decide your comfort level. Leaders are reluctant to state that they will be riding hard and fast. They need to spit it out and know riders are not going to beat them up for being braggy. Hours on the bike will answer all your questions. Get out there and sample different conditions. No one gets left behind and we always wait for the guy/gal riding behind. As Ken said, "We have all been there". We are all Noobs to the next level.

Randy, Thanks for the link

It started as a Camera discussion Thursday night. With careful maneuvering, the talk turned to a Friday Ride. Set the hook, reel him in! N2TM and me have been separated by life's events for awhile, so it was good to get back together. Not knowing where we would end, we started with a figure 8 in San Gregorio Ridge area then headed east on San Felipe W. Tarantula, Tule W. under the highway toward the Salton Bathtub. The Travertine Restaurant in Salton City served up a nice meal and Draft. Todd sends us off to the Freeman Riding Area, which we have zero idea where we are going! After much randomness in the area northeast of the microwave tower we manage to scout back to Calcite Mine Rd. and up to pavement. The Freeman / Truckhaven area is quite a maze/warren/web of trails in the fashion of a highly eroded badland. Easy to get yourself lost. The GPS does not do you much good as all the washes run downhill northwest to southeast. Once we hit the Salton Seaway, a brief discussion ensued on the topic of running late and how much more trouble could we get into with the wives if we were somewhat later. No preferring the pavement option, cross the road and south on Truckhaven Trail toward Arroyo Salado and Five Palms finally connecting to the Cut Across Trail. 97 miles back to Tamarisk Grove. Thanks to Todd for enabling the Impulse.

It's OK to go racing as long as you use the Race Truck.

Tires, I know. But hey these things sure perform on the trail. The front tracks reliably and the rear does not step out anywhere as much as a knobby. MotoMax on El Cajon Blvd. has them stocked if you are temped. About $65-$75. And no I do not profit this endorsement.

Anyone up for a ride in the Dez Friday. Borrego Badlands / North or Carrizo Badlands / South. Late offer, let me know by 8:00PM Thursday

Up on Carrizo Peak, Spaugh and me swapped bikes for a couple of miles. ( KTM 300 & 690 ) As it turns out, his comments about my bikes suspension setup proved to be quite helpful. "A little soft up front." After we arm wrestled about the affront, it started me thinking. A couple of weeks later, after reviewing my tuners ( Superplush ) setup instructions, I added two clicks compression and rebound And 10cc of 5wt fork oil. Resulting in lighter feel on the front end. Rolling through obstructions, the front wheel seems to dive less and return to upright position faster. That's my impression anyway. Just seemed to lighten up the front. So let your pal test ride your ride once in awhile for setup input. It could help. Thanks Spaugh!

Congratulations on the sale. Wish I could get away with you to Tombstone! Too much going on at the moment.

The first thing I did to the new bike was get the front and rear sag correct. This required a new, stiffer rear spring. Made all the difference. i have used scotts, gpr v1, v2, and v4 now. I am a GPR guy. They are local, the adjuster has numbers on it and its easier to use. But I will say that scott's high speed low speed valving is superior if you can get it dialed in. That is no easy task. I think GPR should do 2 different valving schemes. One for street and one for dirt. Their valving is so stiff on the v4 that you never really need to go above about 4.5. I am leaving mine at about 4 for really fast desert courses, and at 2.5ish for trail riding. Its one of those things where if I feel the steering get at all slugish it needs to be turned down right then and there. Also, regarding your front suspension. Another easy thing you can try is adding preload spacers to your forks. Adding 1/8th or 1/4" spacers, 1 at a time to help level out the bike and keep the front from diving. its cheap and fairly easy to do. Also, try not to mess with both comp and rebound clickers together. Try just adjusting the compression clickers and get them how you want them. Then adjust the rebound if it feels bouncy or bucky. Don't be afraid to change clickers by 5 or 10 clicks. You can put them back.

All you shooters are members of "A well regulated Militia" ?

Regards Steering Stabilizer: Yeah, hard to remember to turn it down when things are happening fast. I have turned it down from 4 to 3 for trail riding. But in the wash, back up to 4 or 5. GPR V4 And the 10cc was to reduce bottoming by shrinking air volume.

About the cost of A Ballpark! Also, that frame and swing arm are Art.

Lark, You can leave your 6 speed tranny at home, only need a three speed. Rode the Valley Trail north and the Ridge Trail south. Add a few inside loops, climb the rock and you are done! Carrizo Overlook Sempra Stealth Camp, AKA Rough Canyon Sacatone Overlook Dusty Acres

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Never been to McCain so today seems like a good time to avoid two - way traffic and check it out. Especially interested in desert overlooks. Will check out Sacatone and Carrizo Overlooks. I guess parking at Lark Canyon is the place?? I will take a NF Adventure Pass in case I need one. I will keep a look-out for SDAR stickers. The wife needs me Wednesday so today is the day.

http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/elcentro/recreation/ohvs/larkcany.html Open the PDF map of the area and you are set. The place is only 4-5 miles south to north. If I go back for another pass, I will pay $6 to set-up in a campsite vs the Day Use area.